Trap-nest.



No. 889,898. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. A. B. BROWN.

TRAP NEST.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 1s, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 889,898. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. A. B. BROWN.

TRAP NBST.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov.1, 1907.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

ALLEN B. BROWN, OF IPSWICH, SOUTH DAKOTA.

TRAP-NE ST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 9, 1908.

Application filed November 18, 1907. Serial No. 402,714.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN B. BROWN, a citizen .of the United States, residing at Ipswich7 in the county of Edmunds and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trap-Nests, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of nests known as trap nests which are designed to trap a hen when she enters the nest, in order that the poultryman may keep a record of the eggs laid.

The present invention has for its object to provide a nest of this kind which is simple in construction, and reliable in operation; and to this end the invention consists in a construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation showinga group of nests with the doors thereof in different positions. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 5 denotes a box which is divided into a number of compartments by partitions 6, each of said compartments serving as a nest. In the drawings, I have shown a box which is large enough for three of said compartments, but it will be understood that by changing the size of the box it may be provided with a greater or a smaller number of compartments.

In the front wall of the box are openings through which the hens enter the nests. A separate entrance with a self-closing door therefor is provided for each nest. The doors are hinged to swing inwardly and are provided with a closing spring 7 one end of which bears on the end wall or the partitions, and the other end on the door. Each door is composed of vertical slats 8 and upper and lower slats 9 and 10, respectively. The upper slat projects beyond the front edge of the door and engages the front wall of the box on the inside thereof to prevent the door from swinging outwardly.

To the top of the doorway is loosely hung on an eye-bolt 11 a prop for holding the door aj ar, to permit the hen to enter the nest. The prop is a single piece of wire doubled and twisted together for a portion of its length, as indicated at 12. One end of the wire is bent laterally, as indicated at 18. In one of the slats 8 of the door, near the top thereof, is a hole 141 to receive the prop, whereby the gate is held partly open by stopping against the lateral bend 13. The hen, upon entering the nest through the partly open door pushes thereagainst, which swings it inwardly and disengages the prop, so that when the hen passes beyond the door it closes and traps her. The door swings easily on its hinges, so as to form no resistance to the opening movement.

The rear wall of the box is fitted with a removable slatted panel 15 to facilitate cleaning of the nests. On the inside of the nest is a catch 16 for holding the door open while the hen is being released. This catch depends from the top of the nest and is engageable by a iiexible strip 17 carried by one of the slats 8 of the door at the top thereof. In Fig. 1 the doors are shown in the various positions herein described.

The nest is simple in construction and reliable in operation. The manner in which the prop is engageable with the door prevents it from being accidentally disengaged, and the hen cannot enter the nest without being trapped and cannot leave it until liberated by the attendant.

The nest can be easily cleaned, and the doors and panels afford ample ventilation.

I claim A trap-nest comprising a box having a self-closing door provided with a hole, and a prop for holding the door partly open, said prop comprising a stem loosely hung on the box and adapted to enter the hole in the door, and having a lateral projection adapted to act as a stop.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN B. BROWN. Witnesses WM. ED. WALSH, ALsoN McALLIsTER. 

